Kelly Stuart’s New Mom Must Haves

When Kelly Stuart, The Glow’s very own co-founder, was pregnant with her sweet daughter Ella, she had already been immersed in the world of mama and babies for years. She also has a magic design touch that translates into the most cozy, thoughtfully curated, rustic yet elegant Westchester home. When it came time to welcome her daughter into the world, Kelly had a clear idea of the types of pieces she wanted to incorporate into her little one’s life, that would be highly functional while maintaining the overall look and feel of her home decor. Her shopping process combined two key elements—extensive research and sustainable design, often with a handmade quality. The result is a home filled with thoughtfully-selected, minimal, and above all, useful necessities and accessories for her soon-to-be eight-month old. Here, Kelly shares her top 24 new-baby must-haves, and the reason why each and every piece on this list has been indispensable to her as a new mom.

Kelly’s Baby Gear Philosophy:

THE GLOW: While you were pregnant, did you have a defined approach in mind for how you would deal with purchasing baby items?

KELLY STUART: “I admittedly spend too much time researching (this goes for almost every area in my life) but purchasing smart is very important to me. I’d rather spend the time to know my options and spend a little more on purchasing quality pieces that can grow with Ella (and hopefully a little brother and/or sister one day)!”

TG: What are your tips to other new moms in terms of buying thoughtfully and strategically for their babies?

KS: “Go with your gut; don’t conform to the usual and don’t be afraid to live without certain things. I feel like I’m constantly saying to our family ‘No, thank you I don’t think we need that.’ Sometimes I’m wrong but a lot of the time we do fine without! Do what works for you. Having a cluttered home really weighs on me and gives me anxiety. Being able to shed some of the stuffallows me to stay organized and breath easy.”

TG: How would you describe your home decor aesthetic?

KS: “Rustic elegance with a country flare. We live in a 200 year old farmhouse that we have been lovingly renovating and restoring since purchasing it four years ago. I greatly appreciate its historic charm being that my husband and I are avid antiquers. Our home is full of refurbished wood, and vintage treasures we picked up throughout years of traveling and living. I love that one’s home is the story of their life and I love that our collectibles tell that story.”

TG: As any new mom can relate to, baby stuff can easily take over your home in the beginning—how have you managed to keep the “stuff” to a minimum?

KS: “It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of things we ‘think’ we need for a new baby. But less is certainly more. For me, it’s important that she actually uses and appreciates her stuff.”

TG: What was the biggest baby-gear-buying mistake you made early on?

KS: “I think my biggest mistake was not having an open mind when it came to certain learning toys. Close family and friends would often joke that Ella would only have earth-toned, wooden toys to play with. Admittedly, early on I swore off large flashy, plastic toys by not giving them a chance. Some of Ella’s favorite toys are ones I never thought we’d have.”

TG: You have a very specific (and beautiful) color palette in your home, including the baby gear—do you plan to stick to this as Ella gets older?

KS: “I’ve always been attracted to natural textiles and earthy decor. Having a love for nature, and I invite the outside in as much as I can. I think this color palette will always carry out in the spaces we design and in the items we purchase for Ella, until she is old enough to pick out her own stuff. Although, I do hope she shares the same appreciation for refurbished materials and vintage keepsakes.”

Kelly's Must Haves

1.

When choosing a stroller for our new baby, the most important elements for us were versatility, comfort, and beautiful design. I love that the Uppababy Vista is expandable and multi-functional—it can easily transform and adapt as our family grows, from a single all the way up to a triple stroller! The system comes with a gorgeous bassinet as well as the rumble seat (pictured here), and doubles as car seat system/travel solution with its snap-and- go capabilities (we have and love the Mesa car seat). Being able to easily go from car to stroller in a matter of seconds was especially helpful with a newborn, and the hefty, all-terrain wheels make for the smoothest ride. I love its super roomy storage basket, perfect for trips to the store and that the seat cover is made with UV protected material (this was particularly important to us). This is the special addition version, which has the most beautiful leather accents and multi-stitched blue fabric. Truly timeless!

Handmade with love in Lennox Head, Australia, this gorgeous personalized wooden bundle(rattle and ring stacker teether), engraved with my daughter’s name, was the perfect starter set. They are made from sustainable European hardwoods (beech and Acer woods) and sealed with their own organic balm made from beeswax and jojoba oil (also included in the giftset). I am someone who purchases baby items with the intent of collecting heirlooms, and this set will definitely make its way into that special box for my grandchildren one day.

One of our favorite gifts was this beautiful Moses bassinet and rocking stand from Restoration Hardware. Its classic design made it the perfect rocking nest for Ella when was she was a newborn. Our bassinet came with thecable knit liner in oatmeal(not pictured), which was as cozy as a winter sweater and added just the right amount of warmth to what became one ofher favorite napping spots during the day.Now that Ella has outgrown this bassinet, it has been re-purposed to house all her favorite stuffed animals.

Before I was pregnant, I would occasionally browse kids’ clothes and bookmark sites, designers, and companies that I loved, which is when Icame across Misha& Puff and I couldn’t wait to orderone day! Other than sharing my daughter’s name (Ella’s birth name is Eleanor, named after my Mama, my mother’s mom), this sweet little Eleanor Sun suit is a perfect heirloom piece, handmade in Lima, Peru with local merino wool. Misha&Puff commissions a group of local women topassionately hand knit each piece with love. The sweetest surprise is being sent the name of the knitter that personally knit your article of clothing.

I found Madeline’s Box pacifier clips when I was shopping for my niece-to-be while my sister was pregnant (I secretly ordered a handful for myself at the time). I loved how simple yet beautifully crafted the braided straps were. They are super–functional and have been a savior in keeping Ella’s pacifier off the floor. They attach to clothing, car seats, strollers and highchairs and are a must for all new moms whose children use pacifiers. I plan on re-purposing the braided straps when Ella outgrows her pacifierby turning them into sweet little bracelets.

I’m a winter girl, and a homebody at heart, so I don’t think it was a coincidence that our daughter was born in November, on the verge ofmy favorite season. This cashmere sock and hat set was the perfect purchase as we spent our days hibernating, snuggling and nestled inside from the cold weather. The booties can double as shoes and socks (pulled up as knee highs).

This multi-functional sleeper is hands down one of my all-time favorite products! Our DocATot (the deluxe in pristine white) lives on our couch and has been an amazing day sleeper for our daughter. It also served as the perfect co-sleeper that allowed me to cuddle up and nap with Ella during the day. She still lives in the Deluxe (0-8 months) but we are about to graduate to the Grand (stage 2 size 9-36M) which will be the perfect sleeper for her next stage including family camping trips! Pictured here is the Limited edition cover (a special collaboration with Mrs. Mighetto), featuring the sweetest, whimsical illustrations.

I did a lot of research for a wooden play gym for Ella.Our goal was to have something safe, beautiful, yet functional for her to play with. I was super-stoked when I found the Finn and Emma play gym. Made with non-toxic birch wood, this all round organic piece was a perfect addition to our play space. The play gym has stunning handmade wooden toys (made from Indian hardwood) and hand knit dolls (made by artisans in Peru). They are interchangeable and are also perfect to use as toys on car seats and strollers. This play gym also pairs and fits perfectly over the deluxe DockATot making it the perfect multi-functional toy for all stages.

I’m a worrier by nature, so this device is invaluable to me. I remember it popping up on social media one day before we were pregnant and I immediately knew that when the day came, I would be hooked. The Owlet sock (which is Bluetooth-enabled) tracks your little one’s oxygen level and heart rate while they sleep. The system is connected to your phone (where their data is readily available at any time) and has truly allowed me peace of mind every night. Without feeling the need to repeatedly check on her, I’m able to rest easy.

Ella slept right beside our bed, snug as a bug, in my niece’s Restoration Hardware Heirloom bassinet (which we loved!) the first few months of her life. At five months, her cozy bassinet was getting too small. Not quite ready to move Ella into her own room (our plan is for her to share our room with us until she is one year old), we started our search for a good in–between solution. I was already a fan of Babyletto’s clean, simple designs since we had purchased The Gelato crib for her nursery,I immediately turned to them for a mini crib as well. Made from New Zealand Pine, the Origami Mini crib is beautifully designed, lightweight and truly portable. Having traveled out of state a few times, this fits perfectly in our pick up truck, making weekend trips easy.

Being a work from home mom, I’m always trying to find creative ways to work while simultaneously caring for our daughter. When Ella was a newborn, this carrier allowed me to work (sometimes for hours) with her peacefully resting on my chest. We also wear it almost daily for walks outside in our yard, and on strolls through our favorite flea markets. It’s super-versatile (it grows with baby with its multiple positioning options) and beautifully made with natural linen, which is perfect for both baby boys and girls!

The Mamaroo was a game changer for us. The second we put our daughter in it, it was an instant hit and an automatic joy for her. The Mamaroo simulates a parent’s movement and has four other settings (she is equally in love with each of them!). Beautifully designed, this swing doesn’t overpower your living space compared to others on the market.

We have used Halo sleep sacks since Ella first came home from the hospital! This wearable blanket is the perfect alternative to the traditional swaddle, is super cozy and allows swaddling with arms in and arms out.

It’s hard to find baby gear that isn’t bulky in design, and that doesn’t take over and override your space and décor. Joovy has definitely masterminded making simply–designed baby gear that fits in nicely with any home, Their simple design has clean lines and adult friendly colors. Ella spends a lot of time in this walker these days as she explores the world of solids. In addition to it being a great play and walking device, we use our spoon walker as her personal dining area. I love its spacious table and washable try.

When I was pregnant, I was super conscious and concerned with the chemicals found in my everyday products. Looking back, I can’t believe how many hours I spent in Whole Foods searching for the right products. For me,it was a continuous guessing game (even with organic based products) as there were practically no products that actually said they were safe to use while pregnant. Years back, I had photographed Grace Lee and was super excited when I remembered her line, Nine naturals! It’s plant based and completely 100% pregnancy safe.

I love the VornadoBaby Air Circulator! It circulates air to a gentle breeze while we sleep. This fan (a perfect addition to our room) triples as a sound machine and a night light and has the best kid friendly features including a hidden cord (also perfect for neat obsessed moms like me) and baby proof controls.

Made for the design–minded mom, this simple but super spacious and functional playpen has been our number one lately, as our little one becomes increasingly more active. It’s the perfect space for Ella to be adventurous on her own! It’s the cutest thing when she is playing and I glance over and she is proudly standing, peeking her little head over the side at us. I think giving her the room to freely move has helped her motor skills while encouraging her independence! And it gives me more independence as well! Extremely useful; we have two of these.

Dream material! This line is literally made of the best material out there. The fabric (Model) is environmentally friendly and is super thin, airy, and creamy soft! Their arrow onesie is our personal favorite!

There is something so remarkably meaningful about breathing new life into old clothing. Seeing Ella wearing hand-me-downs from family (my niece and Ella are exactly one year apart!) or children of close friends truly warms my heart. These pants are one of my favorites! They are handed down to Ella from Violet’s daughter Plum. The material is amazing (super stretchy and form fitting) and the cut is perfect (I wish they came in my size!). Ella has been wearing them (oversized) pulled all the way up as high–waisted pants since she was a few weeks old.

Designed in NYC and handmadeby local craftsmen in Peru, these gorgeous (100% organic cotton) bite sized crochet rattles quickly became Ella’s best friends. They are perfectly sized for her little hands and they go wherever we go. They are available in the sweetest designs including these precious little animals, which will definitely make their way into Ella’s heirloom box.

The Rockabye Baby Pandora station will forever have a specialplace in my heart. We started listening to this channel when we were in the hospital after Ella was born and it’s still ourdaily go–to for sweet, soothing tunes. This all instrumental stationplays lullaby renditions of our favorite songs by artists likeMadonna, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bjork, Bob Marley,and Jay Z. Each and every song is amazing, but “A Thousand Years”, by Christina Perri in particular will always melt my heart.

When I was pregnant, I was on a mission to wear clothes that I already owned or pieces that would fit into my wardrobe afterwards. I tried to purchase as little maternity clothing as possible. If you saw me while I was pregnant, there was a good chance I was wearing this tank dress by Storq in either grey or black. It is the perfect all-purpose dress that highlights your bump beautifully! I literally lived in these all spring, summer and fall! I wore it dressed up for a wedding, dressed down with a pair of sneakers or sandals, and I cozied up in it with an oversized sweater. It also helped me during a long bout of sensitive skin during my pregnancy since the fabric is so breathable and super soft. With its stretchy neckline, it’s still my go-to for breastfeeding.